Final Fantasy XI Online

[memo]

Just got FFXI as a gift, and wondering if I should keep it, because of the monthly costs, or possibly return it. I really enjoyed all the FF series, FF2,3, or 7 are probably my favorites. But I am wondering if I would get into FFXI much. And the monthly cost is 13 bucks? I've been reading reviews online but wanted to get some ATOT opinions. Is this game alot like the other FF series, i.e. you have a party and you go through towns beating up boses? Or is it like a community of players just walking around fighting each other? I guess I am a little bit confused on the whole dynamic of online gaming. I've always though its just a bunch of people fighting each other, no story is really presented such as in the FF series previous to this online version.

So, I guess I am looking for reasons to keep it because I really like the FF series.

Side note: Anyone know the return policy at Best Buy with FFXI? I am assuming that you can return it once you open it, because even though there is hardware, there is all the game software.

EDIT: This is for PS2 in case anyone was wondering.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

It's a good game, but nothing like the Final Fantasies you played before. It's a MMORPG, that's all. You run around and kill things for experience and items, and join groups and guilds. It has moogles and chocobos, and the graphics are great, but when it comes down to it, it's just like every other MMORPG.
If it is opened, I don't believe you can return it. Being a MMORPG, all you would need to do it write down the key, and the game would be useless to someone else.

 

[memo]

so pretty much theres no "ending" like there is in the other FF games?

 

[ironcrotch]

well its MMORPG, so you go as far as you want to go. i think you should keep it. :thumbsup:

 

[Zysoclaplem]

There is no definate ending to the game. There are quests, and a level cap. No big boss ,that once killed, saves the world from destruction. There are big bad guys, but they just spawn again.

 

[memo]

is it fun to play? in my online experiences, mostly through Age of games, there are some really cool people, but the majority seem the be useless tools that make the game less apealling. how is the online community with FFXI?

 

[Zysoclaplem]

It's definately fun to play. But I am burned out after years of playing MMORPGs. But hear this. These games are addictive. Especially if you start making friends on the game. You will find it harder and hardwer to stop playing until one day...POOF!.. You weigh 50lbs more and your only love life is a half-elf named Yoriska Bladeheart, who is probably a 60yo crippled man from Maryland.

 

[SALvation]

It also has a much better story than any other MMORPG. Also a retail expansion is coming out in Sept. and every month the game is updated with a ton of new stuff. Definitely keep it.

 

[memo]

is the windows version any different than the PS2 version? I see that a USB keyboard is recommended. Maybe I should just return the PS2 version for the windows version and save 40 bucks. I don't have a need for the HDD at present because I don't have HDD loader.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Yeah, I would definately get the game for the PC. I don't know how this game looks on the PS2, but I know how other games look on the PS2. You should get 30 days free to play before you have to pay anything.

 

[tallest1]

windows version is much better. no contest. and technically there is a big boss - The Shadowlord - and a long story leading up to the battle. Of course the world doesn't end when you beat him but its better than City of Heroes which has absolutely zero content.

I loved the game until I hit near the 50's and it took forever to form a party

 

[nageov3t]

I'd return it.

I bought it when it first came out... it was fun for a couple weeks, but eventually got boring.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'd return it.

I bought it when it first came out... it was fun for a couple weeks, but eventually got boring.

I had the same experience. I was really excited, because I love FF games. I didn't even get past the free 30 days. The community wasn't very friendly, and no one really talked or wanted to group.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
It's definately fun to play. But I am burned out after years of playing MMORPGs. But hear this. These games are addictive. Especially if you start making friends on the game. You will find it harder and hardwer to stop playing until one day...POOF!.. You weigh 50lbs more and your only love life is a half-elf named Yoriska Bladeheart, who is probably a 60yo crippled man from Maryland.

Yoriska and I have to have a talk...

 

[Mareg]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'd return it.

I bought it when it first came out... it was fun for a couple weeks, but eventually got boring.

The same here... and I'm a HUGE FF fan, mind you.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
It's definately fun to play. But I am burned out after years of playing MMORPGs. But hear this. These games are addictive. Especially if you start making friends on the game. You will find it harder and hardwer to stop playing until one day...POOF!.. You weigh 50lbs more and your only love life is a half-elf named Yoriska Bladeheart, who is probably a 60yo crippled man from Maryland.

Yoriska and I have to have a talk...

Enough talk! Yoriska wants to meet in real life. He is coming to visit you. His love won't be denied.

 

[torpid]

Well, I played it for several months. I found the community to be very friendly once you found the right people. As time went on, the script kiddies began flooding the areas. I really really liked talking to people from Asia and learning about how they played FFXI and other cultural differences.

I'd say FFXI has about as much longevity as a good PC game. I had about 5 jobs around level 30 and one day just hit the wall. It was hard to find a group at 30, not TOO hard but hard enough for me to realize it was going to get worse later.

The other problem I was starting to have was no longer being able to discover things and enjoy them. By that I mean either you gather a group of people who have never done something and try it and then die or you get someone who has done it before to hold your hand. After a point there's no reward for exploration really.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
It's definately fun to play. But I am burned out after years of playing MMORPGs. But hear this. These games are addictive. Especially if you start making friends on the game. You will find it harder and hardwer to stop playing until one day...POOF!.. You weigh 50lbs more and your only love life is a half-elf named Yoriska Bladeheart, who is probably a 60yo crippled man from Maryland.

:laugh:

True words

As for people, it varies, but MMORPGs tend to have fewer small children and flat-out dumbasses than other games. People in general are flat-out dumbasses though, so 'fewer' doesn't mean 'none' - far from it. FFXI doesn't appeal to me because most of its playerbase is Japanese (nothing against them, but I don't speak the language) and because you play alongside ps2 users. Nothing personal to anyone here, but console users do tend to be younger and not as bright, so there's that aspect... and then there's the fact that the user interface is simple enough to be controlled by a gamepad and isn't modifiable.

I say give it a try, the game was a gift, what's $13 to see what you think?

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: loki8481
I'd return it.

I bought it when it first came out... it was fun for a couple weeks, but eventually got boring.

I had the same experience. I was really excited, because I love FF games. I didn't even get past the free 30 days. The community wasn't very friendly, and no one really talked or wanted to group.

I played it for about 2 months, i thought it was great, one of the better ones out there. Community was divided though, i had MUCH more fun with the JPs than with the average American (luckily my hours coincided with JP prime time)... i think it's because of the FF franchise, it just draws a lot more adolescents than your typical MMORPG.

It's a good game... you do get your one month free trial, and if you do like it, is $13 a month really that much?

 

[skace]

My FFXI experience was jaded by the fact that I ended up on a very japaneese server. It was a quiet server, most people wouldn't talk to me, because they didn't understand me. And even when I used the translator, most wouldn't bother translating back.

My friends and I had fun up until level 35~ but then the group demand was too great. We were constantly looking to recruit japaneese players our level to complete our group, but it was very hard when half your group spoke one language and the other half another language.

It was good for a month.

 

[darkamulets]

U get horrible PT sometimes till 30. 30-35 is the period where people quit and after that it gets much better. I'm on garuda as darkamulet 50RDM/BLM

 

[RadioHead84]

if your a huge FF fan then maybe. But i think there are better MMOPRG out there. I have played a lot....EQ, AO, AoC, SwG,FF

FF just seems rather bland to me and i have heard that with most people. I think its just for people who like the masive gameplay and also like FF.

I am just waiting for EQ2 and WoW!